- So I woke up early Sunday morning with visions of our journey racing through my head. We rode steady for 7.05 hours, at a 15.6 mile an hour average, burned 5343 calories, climbed 4458 ft for 111-miles. It was an amazing day for the four of us!
It was pretty intense morning. Up at 4 a.m. (not that any of us slept the night before!) Forcing some kind of healthy breakfast down to get our fire going was not easy! On the road by 5, we were piled in the May's vehicle with a bicycle laying across John and a bunch of water bottles, helmets and all kinds of paraphernalia strewed about. With all of us in our team jerseys, we certainly looked like we knew what we were doing!
- Poor Jen had the misfortune of riding in the way back with me ... Jen McGrath is our good friend that took our vehicle home after dropping us off in Sturbridge. Tired and wretchedly nervous, I was ready to lose what breakfast I had eaten in Tricia's helmet! As always, Jen was super supportive and told me to 'suck it up pumpkin!'. (That's Jen's favorite line!) It's all good now!
We get to Sturbridge and head to the staging area. Due to 4 tired and high strung teammates, we were not allowed within 10ft of each others personal space! Mike ran for some last minute air in his tire, Trish and I ran to pee one more time and John just took it all in. It was a sea of helmets and wheels. Thousands of people out to finish their objective - ride to fund the cure! People of all shapes and sizes lined up. Some 1st timers, many on their 2nd, 10th or more time riding the PMC. The National Anthem was sung, the 1 minute countdown began and we were off! There was quite a send off with spectators lining the streets and even a bunch of cheerleaders from somewhere . . . Not quite sure where as I was just trying not to bang into anyone - it was much like a can of sardines heading out of the gates!
We rode down route 20 right into the sunrise. A beautiful sight! A hilly ride for the first 50 miles, but there were so many people outside there houses cheering us on that it didn't matter. Kids, adults, cats, dogs - you name it! People were cheering, ringing bells, blowing bubbles, spraying hoses . . . some kids had a rock band, another was playing bagpipes and there was even a guy on a bugle! Spectators were cheering and thanking us for riding. One woman pointed to her adult daughter who was obviously undergoing treatment and said 'Thank you! This is why you're riding!' WOW!
Tricia and I let everyone around us in on our survival method that we used during training. We like to sing - Anything from old camp songs from when we were kids, to The Bicycle song by Queen. We were witty and fun and totally amused the whole ride . . . So that's our version - we aren't completely sure that everyone around us thought we were witty and fun, as we found ourselves riding alone on occasion . . .
Mike and John couldn't help but race ahead for a bit while Trish and I took it steady not wanting to wear ourselves out too quickly. There were water and food stops every 25 or so miles. Lots of food and tons to drink. Mike's Mom met us at the 1st, Trish's parents met us at the 2nd. Kevin and the McGrath and May kids met us at the last water stop. It was amazing and so uplifting to see their friendly faces! I was getting texts from my Mom and other friends during the day that was so cool.
We all agreed that by having you all supporting us by donating, the phone calls of well wishes and emails of support leading up to Sunday, made a huge difference for us. We carried you all with us right to the end!
At the end, we saw the sign that said Entering Bourne. It sent chills up our spines. We were just a few miles away. We maintained a constant speed, kept our heads in the game and were almost at the end! The last turn to the Mass Maritime Academy was an unexpected thrill. Just as we turned the corner, we saw the beautiful faces of our children wearing their Team Beau-May jerseys! They were jumping up and down - screaming our names, high fiving us as we went by. My Mom and Dad and the McGrath's were there too. Jen might have had a tear in her eye but I'll never tell! (You'd have to know Jen - she's one tough cookie and never cries!)
We rode in to the checkpoint where they scan your bracelet and document that you made it. A short time later our kids and family came running around the corner into the parking area where we were waiting - tired, hot but exhilarated that we had made it 111 miles and made a difference how ever small. I don't think I've ever held my kids so tight and felt so grateful that for now, my family is healthy and I have such amazing friends! God is good indeed! Thanks for everything guys! B2&Co.
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